Mikel Refutes Claims He Called Toni Kroos ‘Average’

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has strongly denied reports suggesting he described ex-German international and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos as an ‘average player’ during his career.

Last week, several media outlets in Nigeria and abroad circulated quotes attributed to Mikel, claiming he had dismissed Kroos as overrated because of his association with Real Madrid.

The claims gained traction after renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano shared them on his social media platforms.

In a rebuttal on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel categorically distanced himself from the remarks.

‘That’s an absolute lie. To say that Modric, Carvajal, Kroos, or Nacho aren’t good enough is unbelievable. I would never say something like that, and I never will,’ he said.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner went further to praise the Madrid stars as world-class players and legends of the game.

‘They’ve won the Champions League six times. Saying they weren’t good is crazy,’ Mikel added.

The alleged comments had gone so viral that Kroos himself responded on Instagram, writing: ‘And why didn’t you play for Real Madrid?’